Awards went out to women who have done extraordinary work in the accounting profession at a lunchtime ceremony during the Joint National Conference, a three-day event organized by the American Woman's Society of CPAs and American Society of Women Accountants.
Karen Jacobson, an accountant for the Leopold Center at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, was named the ASWA's Woman of the Year. The AWSCPA also recognized Lesley Murphy, CPA, managing partner of the Client Services Group at Plante & Moran in Southfield, Mich., as its 2007 Woman CPA of the Year.
The ASWA Educational Foundation recognized the best national, regional and local companies with a commitment to work/life balance with the organization's Balance Awards. This year, the ASWA presented the national award to Montvale, N.J.-based KPMG, the regional award to Plante & Moran, and the local award to Keiter Stephens Hurst Gary & Shreaves, located in Glen Allen, Va.
ASWA members from six different regions were awarded an Individual Achievement Award, recognizing their leadership and accomplishment within the financial and accounting profession.
The recipients were Terri Albertson, CPA, a partner at Grant Thornton LLP in Philadelphia; Tami Wood, finance director, global franchise, at Johnson & Johnson in Jacksonville, Fla.; Karen Jacobson, an accountant at the Leopold Center at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa; Elizabeth Copeland, a shareholder at Oppenheimer, Blend, Harrison & Tate, in San Antonio; Kay Pitt, CPA, a senior lecturer in accounting at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Ariz.; and sole proprietor Debbie Michael, CPA, of Billings, Mont.
The AWSCPA honors its chapters through its Star Affiliate Awards, which recognize those groups that achieve exceptional success throughout the year. The society's Tucson, Ariz., South Florida and New Jersey affiliates were all honored for this reason.
The AWSCPA Educator of the Year award went to Dr. Sharon Lightner, CPA, a professor of accounting in the School of Accountancy at San Diego State University. She was nominated by one of her students.
Perhaps the most moving of all the awards given during the luncheon was the AWSCPA's honoring of Sandra Weiner, a past president of the South Florida affiliate. Weiner was the recipient of the Woman of Courage Award for the legacy she left her chapter after she died in June from colon cancer at the age of 45. Her husband, Steve Bradbery, and best friend, Ivy Defino, CPA, accepted the award in her memory.
Lori Greenawalt, CPA, partner-in-charge of the Philadelphia internal audit regulatory and compliance practice for KPMG, was recognized for her volunteer work with the society's Public Service Award.
